Wipe-Moistening Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A wipe dispenser with a mechanism that enables the user to moisten the wipes, which comprises a liquid container, a bottom roller, a top roller, an adjustment button, and an adjustment mechanism that lowers and raises the top roller. The liquid container is designed to contain liquid that is used to moisten and wet the wipes. The bottom roller is attached horizontally by means of axial joints to the top of the liquid container so that the bottom roller may be partially immersed in the liquid in the container. The top roller is attached horizontally to the adjustment mechanism and is parallel and slightly above the bottom roller. The adjustment mechanism can be moved up and down using the adjustment button, causing the wipes to become moist or wet while the user pulls them out of the dispenser.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to a wipe dispenser with a moisteningmechanism that enables the user to pull out a dry wipe that passesthrough a mechanism that moistens it to the degree of wetness the userdesires.

BACKGROUND ART

The general public customarily uses wipes in the lavatory and in thekitchen, to clean up babies and faces, and for many other various uses.In many cases, the wipes that are used are moist—moist baby wipes, moistfacial tissue paper, moist toilet paper and other forms of moist wipes.In the present patent, the term “moist wipe” refers to all kinds ofmoist baby wipes, moist facial tissue paper, moist toilet paper, etc.and the term “dry wipe” refer to those same wipes when they are drycondition. There are, however, times when the user has a dry wipe butwants to use a moist wipe, and vice versa. The dispenser, subject of thepresent invention, provides the user with dry wipes that can be usedeither dry, moist or wet, according to need.

THE DRAWINGS

The drawings attached to the present application are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention and the possible ways of itsapplication. The drawings are intended only to illustrate the inventionand constitute only one of many possible ways of its application.

FIG. 1 depicts a dispenser (1) comprises a container (2), a bottomroller (3), a top roller (4), an adjustment mechanism (6), and anadjustment button (5).

FIG. 2 depicts a dispenser (1) comprises a container (2), a horizontalroller (7), an adjustment mechanism (6) and an adjustment button (5).

FIG. 3 presents a schematic cross-section of the dispenser (1) comprisesalso an electric motor (8), and a relay system that is connected to thetop roller (4).

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the dispenser (1) in closed position with itscasing (11) and cover (12).

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict the dispense (1) wherein its cover (12) is open andits internal components are visible.

FIG. 8 depicts the dispenser (1) and a roll (200) of dry wipes (100) anactivation button (5) and an upper liquid container (21).

FIGS. 9 and 10 present a semi sided cross-section of the dispenser (1)with the liquid container (2), the bottom roller (3) and the fork (44).

THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a dispenser(1) for dry wipes that is equipped with a mechanism that moistens orwets the dry wipes so that the user may use the wipe as a dry. moist orwet wipe, accordingly to need.

The first embodiment of the dispenser (1), subject of the presentinvention, is depicted in FIG. 1. The dispenser (1) is designed tocontain dry wipes (100), which may be packaged either as a roll or asseparate sheets. The drawings that are attached to this applicationdepict as example the dispenser (1) with a roll of dry wipes (100). Thedispenser (1) comprises a liquid container (2), a bottom roller (3), atop roller (4), an adjustment button (5) and an adjustment mechanism (6)that lowers and raises the top roller (4). FIG. 1 depicts a roll of drywipes (100) with a horizontal cavity through which a horizontal rod(200) may be inserted so that roll of wipes hangs in a manner similar tothe way standard toilet-paper rolls hang on horizontal toilet-paperholders in lavatories. The dispenser (1) may have other means on or inwhich sheets or strips of dry wipes (100) are placed, such as a surfaceor a compartment, so that the dispenser (1) may be used both with drywipes that come in rolls and with dry wipes that come in individualsheets.

The liquid container (2) contains a liquid that is used to moisten andwet the dry wipes (100). The liquid can be one of many kinds, such asthose used to moisten wipes.

The bottom roller (3) is attached horizontally to the top of thecontainer (2) in such a way that its two ends are attached by means ofaxes to the two sides of the container (2). These axial joints enablethe bottom roller (3) to rotate around its horizontal axis. The bottomroller (3) is attached to the container (2) in such a way that it ispartially immersed in the liquid that is in the container (2). Thebottom roller (3) can be made of a variety of materials such as wood,metal or plastic and is coated with an absorbent material, such as asponge or fabric, so that its entire surface remains moist and wet whilethe roller (3) rotates around its horizontal axis while partiallyimmersed in the liquid that is in the container (2).

The top roller (4) is attached horizontally to the adjustment mechanism(6), by means of similar axial joints, and is parallel to the bottomroller (3) and positioned slightly above it. The axial joints enable thetop roller (4) to rotate around its horizontal axis. As mentioned, thetop roller (4) is attached to the adjustment mechanism (6), which theuser can move slightly up and down using the adjustment button (5). Theadjustment mechanism (6) can thus be in one of three positions: up,down, and intermediate. The position of the adjustment mechanism (6) isdetermined and controlled by the user using of the adjustment button(5).

The container (2) is designed to serve as a base for the dispenser (1)and so its bottom (222) is flat so that the dispenser (1) may be placedon any surface, such as a table or kitchen countertop. In addition, thedispenser (1) is equipped with an automatic refilling container (21)that is assembled on the top of the container (2) so that liquid mayflow into the container (2) in an automatic manner that is regulated byvacuum in the refilling container (21) and the liquid level in thecontainer (2). Specifically, as long as the level of liquid in thecontainer (2) is higher than rim of the bottom opening (211) of therefilling container (21), the liquid in the refilling container (21) isprevented from flowing downward into the container (2) by the vacuumthat exists in the refilling container above the liquid. However, whenthe level of liquid in the container (2) drops beneath the rim of thebottom opening (211), liquid flows from the refilling container (21)into the container (2) until the said level once more reaches the rim ofthe bottom opening (211). The refilling container (21) enables thecontainer (2) to be refilled with liquid in an automatic, effective,easy and quick manner. When the refilling container (21) is empty andthe liquid in the container (2) is depleted, the empty refillingcontainer (21) is simply replaced with a new, full container (21). Thedispenser (1) is also equipped with a front cover (12) that covers boththe top roller (4) and the bottom roller (3). The dispenser may alsohave a front cover (223).

Using the dispenser (1): As the user pulls it out of the dispenser (1),the dry wipe (100) passes between the two rollers (3) (4) so that whenthe top roller (4) is in up position, the wipe passes without touchingthe bottom roller (3) and the user can use the wipe dry. When the toproller (4) is in intermediate position, it causes the dry wipe (100) totouch the bottom roller (3) lightly, so that the user can use the wipemoist, and when the top roller (4) is in down position, the wipe comesin full contact with the bottom roller (3), causes it to becomethoroughly wet, so that the user can use the wipe wet. As mentioned, theadjustment button (5) controls the position, in terms of height, of thetop roller (4) and, as a results, it controls the degree to which thewipe (100) is moistened as the user pulls it out of the dispenser (1).

The second embodiment of the dispenser (1) is described in a detailed inFIGS. 4-10. FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the dispenser (1) in closed positionwith its casing (11) and cover (12). FIGS. 6 and 7 depict the dispenser(1) whereby its cover (12) is missing or open and its internalcomponents are visible. FIGS. 6-8 depict a roll (200) of dry wipes(100), an activation button (5) and an upper liquid container (21) thatfeeds liquid into the liquid container (2) as required.

FIG. 7 also depicts a fork-like component with two double arms (44)(hereinafter referred to as “the fork”) that replaces the top roller (4)from the first embodiment of the invention and is designed to hold thedry wipe (100) and lower it according to need. The dry wipe (100) isinserted between the pair of top rods (441) and the pair of bottom rods(442) that comprise the fork (44).

As mentioned, the fork (44) is designed so that it lowers the dry wipe(100) and presses it against the bottom roller (3) which is saturatedwith liquid since it is partially immersed in the liquid container (2).The fork (44) holds the dry wipe (100) and presses it against the bottomroller (3) using the arms of the fork to wrap the wipe around part ofthe bottom roller (3), producing more effective contact and betterwetting of the dry wipe (100). The fork (44) is actually made up of twopair of parallel narrow pieces (the arms) between which the wipes pass.When the fork (44) is in up position, its structure prevents the wipespassing through it from touching the liquid-saturated bottom roller (3)and so the wipes remain dry. In addition, the dispenser (1) is equippedwith a cutting edge (13) that runs along against to the bottom edge ofthe cover (12). FIGS. 9 and 10 present a semi sided cross-section of thedispenser (I) with the liquid container (2), the bottom roller (3),which is partially immersed in liquid, and the fork (44) which is indown position, i.e. the wipe (100) is pressed against the bottom roller(3) which is saturated with liquid. FIG. 10 depicts teeth (13) along thebottom edge of the cover (12) that help the user tear off a desiredlength of wipe, either dry or moistened, as depicted and illustrated.

The third embodiment of the dispenser (1), subject of the presentinvention, is depicted in FIG. 2. The dispenser (1) in the secondembodiment of the invention is similar in principle to the dispenser (1)in the first embodiment but has only one horizontal roller (7) that islowered by the adjustment mechanism (6) so that the dry wipe (100)itself is immersed in the liquid in the container (2) while the userpulls it out, and so can be used by the user in moist condition.

The dispenser (1), of the first, second and third embodiments, can beequipped with an electric motor (8) and a relay system (9). The relaysystem (9) is connected to the top roller (4) described in the firstembodiment, to the fork (44) of the second embodiment or to thehorizontal roller (7) described in the second embodiment. Pressing thedispenser's adjustment button activates the electrical motor (8), whichin turn activates the relay system (9), which raises or lowers the toproller (4), the fork (44) or the horizontal roller (7). Thus, the usermay cause the wipe to be moistened or wet by pressing the adjustmentbutton that, in this case, is electrical rather than mechanical. Thefirst embodiment of the dispenser (1) is depicted for exampleschematically in FIG. 3, in semi sided cross-section, showing theelectrical motor (8), which in turn activates the relay system (9).

As mentioned, the dispenser (1) is designed for use with dry wipes thatare either in a roll or are pre-cut sheets or strips. The dispenser (1)can be either a permanent device that is installed in the lavatory,bathroom, kitchen, etc. or it can be portable and so can be used for avariety of uses. The dimensions of the dispenser (1) are adapted to thedesignated use and location of usage. When the liquid in the container(2) is all used up, liquid may be added to the container (2) from anexternal container.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wipe dispenser with a mechanism that enablesthe user to moisten wipes, which comprises a liquid container, a bottomroller, a top roller, an adjustment button, an adjustment mechanism thatraises and lowers said top roller, a front cover, and a refillingcontainer; wherein said liquid container is designed to contain liquidthat is used to moisten and wet said wipes; wherein said bottom rolleris attached horizontally by means of axial joints to a top of saidliquid container so that the bottom roller may be partially immersed inliquid in said liquid container; wherein the top roller is attachedhorizontally by means of axial joints to said adjustment mechanism, sothat it is parallel and slightly above the bottom roller; wherein theadjustment mechanism can be moved up and down using the adjustmentbutton; wherein the liquid container has a flat bottom; wherein thefront cover is designed to cover both the top and bottom rollers;wherein the refilling container is attached to the top of the liquidcontainer.
 2. A wipe dispenser with a mechanism that enables the user tomoisten wipes, which comprises a liquid containers, a horizontal roller,an adjustment button, an adjustment mechanism that raises and lowers thehorizontal roller, a front cover, and a refilling container; wherein theliquid container is designed to contain liquid that is used to moistenand wet said wipes; wherein the horizontal roller is attachedhorizontally to the adjustment mechanism; wherein the adjustmentmechanism can be moved up and down using the adjustment button so thatsaid wipes may be immersed in liquid while a user pulls them out of saiddispenser; wherein the liquid container has a flat bottom; wherein thefront cover is designed to cover the horizontal roller; wherein therefilling container is attached to a top of the liquid container;wherein said adjustment mechanism ends with a fork with two upper armsand two bottom arms, between which said dry wipes are inserted such thatsaid fork lowers and raises the wipe and causes contact between the wipeand the said horizontal roller.
 3. The dispenser mentioned in claim 1wherein it is also equipped with an electric motor and a relay system;wherein the electric motor is connected to said top roller; wherein anactivation of said motor causes said relay system to lower and raisesaid top roller.
 4. The dispenser mentioned in claim 2 wherein it isalso equipped with an electric motor and a relay system; wherein saidelectric motor is connected to said fork; wherein an activation of saidmotor causes said relay system to lower and raise said fork.